Anita Campbell
County Reporter
Main Street was crowded with artists this past weekend as the Warsaw Tourism Council hosted the Benton County Art Festival. In the past the Benton County Art Show had been in conjunction with the Benton County Wine Stroll; however, this year the event was separated and expanded.
According to Lynette Stokes, Benton County Tourism Director, there were a total of 132 entries in the art competition (48 youth and 84 adults) from 51 artists. There was a total of $1,025 in total cash prizes awarded.
Awards presented included:
Best of Show, Dina Kowal, “Self Reflections”.
People’s Choice was presented to Max McKenna for “Neytiri”.
Best of Category, wet media went to Terri Oestmann for “Windy Place”.
Best in Category, dry media, Dina Kowal, “Self Refelction”.
Best in Category, mixed media, Deann Kuse, “Peek-a-Boo”.
Best in Category, photography, went to Kay Perkins for “Hoppin’ Friends”.
Best in Category 3D went to Kati Gatliff for "The End of the Beginning".
Most Creative in Category for wet media went to Dawn Frye for “Billy”.
Most Creative in Category dry media went to Dean Kuse for “Ginger”.
Most Creative in Category for mixed media went to Donna Everitts for “Traveling West”.
Most Creative in Category photography went to Kay Perkins for “Pixie”.
Most Creative in Category 3D went to Geri Choate for “Christmas Tree”.
Artistic Excellence awards were presented to Kathi Gatliff for “I’m a Big Bowl”; Max McKenna for “Neytiri”; Sherrie Close for “Angel Rising”; Deann Kuse for “Winter Jays”; and Terri Oestmann for “Morning Burn-Off”.
Honorable Mention awards were presented to Jennie Ingram for “Buckeye Sunning”; Pam Foster for “Mittins”; Shirley Rosinski for “Mill”; Rhonda Snyder for “A Boy and His Chicken”; Rhonda Snyder for “Butterfly Coneflowers; Dawn Frye for “Approaching Storm”; Lori Gilmore for “Autumn Light”; Donna Everitts for “Happy Parrot”; Benjamin Kowal for “iris” and Susanne Bechtel for “Starry Night”.
“It was the Fourth Artsfest for Benton County and this year we expanded to over 30 vendor booths on Main Street,” said Warsaw Chamber of Commerce Director Kimberly Pearcy. “Vendors sold their handmade art items and had make and take projects that people could do. There were demonstrations, performances, and an open Mic at the Landing.”
Awards presented in the Youth Division included:
Youth (8 to 10 years), wet, “Trails to the Beach”, first place, Bell Fluty.
Youth (11 to 13 years), wet, “Sunflower”, first place, Amelia Roberts.
Youth (14-17), wet, “Skull”, first place, Serenity Miller; second place, “A Moment in the Flowers”, Erin Goodpaster; third place, “Lakeside”, Erin Goodpaster.
Youth, (11 to 13) dry, first place, “Forest”, William Barclay II; second place, “The Meow Ruff”, Saline Howry.
Youth, (14-17), dry, “Spring Rain”, Ruby Althoff; second place, “Lion of Judah”, Ruby Althoff; and third place, “Moana Chicken”, Sara Miller.
Youth mixed media (11-13), first place, “Under the Sea”, Noah Kern; second place, “Samurai”, Noah Kern; third place, “King Strut”, Noah Kern.
Youth photography (8 – 10 years), first place, “Flower”, Henry Adler; second place, “Girl”, Henry Adler; third place, “Boy and Girl”, Henry Adler.
Youth Photography (11-13 years), first place, “Goat”, Connor Roberts; second place, “Girl”, Amelia Roberts; third place, “Duck”, Amelia Roberts.
Youth Photography (14-17 years), first place, “Turtle”, Sara Miller; second place, “Daisy” third place, “Red Cardinal”, Elizabeth Barclay.
Local artist Kathi Gatliff had a booth on Main Street with some of her art work for sale.
“There is a lot of talent in this county and I had people tell me that they are inspired to get out their brushes and start painting or whatever other media they use to create. That’s exciting,” said Gatliff!
Youth 3D (8-10 years), first place, “Spring Trap”, was awarded to Braxyton Whittecar; second place, “Orange Kitty Plate”, Bailey Steenburgen; third place, “Monster”, Braxyton Whittecar.
Youth 3D (14-17 years), first place, “The Mangle”, Ashtyn Danford, second place, “Japanese”, Ashtyn Danford; and third place, “Nightmare Foxy”, Ashtyn Danford.
“We would like to thank all of the Benton County artists who submitted amazing art for this year’s Benton County Arts Fest competition and exhibition,” said Stokes. “You truly are one-of-a-kind and we are blessed to be able to hold this event for you and for all of the followers who support your work. We can’t wait for 2024 to be even bigger and better!”
